Sales activity management system, sales activity management apparatus, and sales activity management method

ABSTRACT

To automatically manage payment of charge produced between an apparatus manufacturer and an information provider, and to promote sales of an information processing apparatus and information contents. 
     There are provided: a terminal device  11  to managed so as to manufacture and manage an information processing apparatus  16  and so as to sell to a user  14  an information processing apparatus at a price lower than a desired sales price of an apparatus manufacturer  15 ; a terminal device  12  managed so as to provide to the user  14  available information contents  18  at the information processing apparatus  16 , and then, collect charge; and a sales activity management apparatus  13  for managing the terminal devices  11  and  12  based on a license agreement made in advance between an apparatus manufacturer  15  and an information provider  17 , wherein this sales activity management apparatus  13  issues an instruction for the terminal device  12  to return to the terminal device  11  an amount of money corresponding to a difference produced because the apparatus manufacturer  15  has provided the information processing apparatus  16  to the user  14  at a low price according to an amount of money for a charge collected from the user  14.

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/819,210 filed Mar. 28,2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,910,015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sales activity management system,sales activity management apparatus and sales activity management methodthat is preferably applicable to activities for selling an informationprocessing apparatus from an apparatus manufacturer to a user andselling available information contents at the information processingapparatus from an information provider to the user.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, there are many cases in which a hardware manufacturersells to a user an information processing apparatus such as tunerdevice, hand held telephone set, or game machine, a broadcast serviceprovider provides to a user a charged digital broadcast program asavailable information contents at the information processing apparatus,a communication service provider provides a telephone call service to auser, and a game manufacturer sells game software to a user.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of materials and money showing an example of asatellite broadcast business model 104 of such type. A charged broadcastbusiness represented by a communication satellite (CS) broadcast, iscarried out so that a broadcast service provider 37 that is a platformshown in FIG. 1 provides broadcast services such as charged digitalbroadcast programs (hereinafter, referred to as charged contents 28) toa user 14, and monthly collects a reception charge (monthly) 38 relevantto charged contents 28 from the user 14.

Namely, with respect to a product (hereinafter, referred to as“hardware”) 26 such as a tuner device (broadcast reception terminaldevice) that is hardware, a hardware manufacturer 35 such as homeelectronics manufacturer purchases essential parts 40 that can beincorporated in the hardware 26 from a part manufacturer 42; A hardwaremanufacturer 35 makes a part payment 41 of essential parts 40 to apartmanufacturer 42. The hardware 26 having the essential parts 40incorporated therein is manufactured by a home electronics manufacturer,the hardware 26 is forwarded to the user 14 for sale, after such homeelectronics manufacturer itself OEM delivers the hardware to a servicecompany, in some instances.

At the time of selling this hardware 26, a broadcast reception contractis made between the broadcast service provider 37 and the user 14. Theuser 14 that is a subscriber often makes payment for the hardware 26 atone time during purchase. However, with respect to broadcast receptionservices, a reception charge 38 is generally paid to the broadcastservice provider 37 monthly. Therefore, from the viewpoint of a companythat is a platform, it is desirable that the hardware 26 such as tunerdevice become more popular to each of the users 14. Thus, reduction ofservice charge and reduction of hardware cost are important means formarketing strategy.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of materials and money showing an example of handheld telephone set communication business model 203. With respect tocommunication business represented by a hand held telephone set, acompany that is a carrier 51′ shown in FIG. 2 provides a communicationservice 48, and collects a base charge and/or an actual telephone callcharge 58 from a user 14 monthly.

Namely, with respect to a product (hardware) 46 such as a hand heldtelephone set that is hardware, a hardware manufacturer 35 purchasesessential parts 40 that can be incorporated in the hardware 46 from apart manufacturer 42. The hardware manufacturer 35 makes a part payment41 of essential parts 40 to the part manufacturer 42. The hardwaremanufacturer 35 acquires a technical standard 45 from a communicationservice provider 47′, manufactures the hardware 46 such as hand heldtelephone set, the hardware 46 is forwarded to the user 14 for sale,after the home electronics manufacturer itself OEM delivers it to aservice company, in some instances.

Therefore, from the viewpoint of a company of carrier 51′, it isdesirable that hardware 46 such as hand held telephone set is morepopular among the user 14. Thus, reduction of service charge andreduction of a hand held telephone are essential marketing strategymeans. At present, an incentive (sales reward) 74 may be temporarilypaid to shops that sell hand held telephones. This is a prospectinvestigation for profit of actual telephone call charge, assuming thatthe user 14 continues subscriber contract for a certain period of time.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of materials and money showing an example of agame software and home use game machine business model 302. In a closedformat represented by a home use game machine, a company that is aformat holder (licenser) 60′ shown in FIG. 3 purchases essential parts40 from the part manufacturer 42. The hardware manufacturer 35 makes apart payment 41 of essential parts 40 to the part manufacturer 42. Thehardware manufacturer 35 manufactures and sells a product (hardware) 66such as game machine (set) that is hardware having the essential parts40 incorporated therein.

This hardware manufacturer 35 permits a license 80 to a softwareproduction company (hereinafter, referred to as software manufacturer)67 called third party, and asks to produce a product (software) 68 suchas software (title) that operates under the game machine only. Thesoftware 68 is sold from the software manufacture 67 to the user 14.When the software manufacturer 67 receives license permission, ingeneral, software royalty 64 that indicates how much software is sold tothe user 14, for example, is paid to the hardware manufacturer 35 thatis a format holder 60′.

In this way, the hardware manufacturer 35 and software manufacturer 67maintain mutuality. Since the format holder 60′ can expect royaltyprofit from the software manufacturer 67, even if hardware profit isreduced (in an extreme case, even if the profit is 0), selling ispossible. As a result, from the viewpoints of an end user, a gamemachine can be purchased at a modest price, whereby the spread ofhardware such as such game machine is promoted.

In the meantime, according to the sales activity management method asdescribed above, in general, it is evident that, when the sales price ofhardware is lower than the current price, it leads to the further spreadand promotion of the hardware and software. However, the followingproblems still remain.

-   <1> Due to a “barrier” of an original price in which a total cost of    parts configuring hardware is dominant or due to the circumference    that the hardware manufacturer 35 assures profits, it is not    preferable to further reduce prices without any improvement from the    viewpoint of company management.-   <2> The hardware manufacturer 35 takes the form of doing hardware    businesses for purchasing essential parts from part manufacturers,    and manufacturing and selling hardware. Thus, it is difficult to    supply hardware at a price lower than a predetermined price,    although the entirety is format business. This results in an    obstacle to further reduction of hardware price.-   <3> In a company that is a platform or carrier 51′, in a case in    which an incentive 74 is paid at the time of selling hardware, in    the event where the subscriber cancels reception contrast or    telephone call contract earlier, there is expected a circumference    that the company imposes a large risk that a back margin occurs.-   <4> In addition, the part manufacturer 42 takes the form of doing    hardware businesses for delivering essential parts 40 to the format    holder 60′. Thus, it is difficult to supply essential parts 40 at a    price lower than a predetermined price, although the entirety is    format business. This results in an obstacle to further reduce a    hardware price.-   <5> In the format holder 60′ for manufacturing and selling hardware,    if hardware profit is reduced (in an extreme case, if the profit is    0), in the case where game software is not sold, there is expected a    circumference that the company imposes a large risk that no profit    is obtained with great effort.-   <6> In order to solve <1> to <5>, in the case where a license    agreement is made between the part manufacturer (hereinafter,    referred to as part manufacturing company) 42 and hardware    manufacture 35, between the hardware manufacturer (hereinafter,    referred to as hardware manufacturing company) 35 and the broadcast    service provider 37 or information provider such as communication    service provider or software production company, it is expected that    the payment and management of royalty between these providers    becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve such problems. It is anobject of the present invention to provide a sales activity managementsystem, apparatus, and method capable of automatically managing paymentof royalty that occurs between the apparatus manufacturer and theinformation provider, and capable of accelerating sales of aninformation processing apparatus and information contents.

The above described problems are solved by a sales activity managementsystem for selling an information processing apparatus from an apparatusmanufacturer to a user, and selling available information contents atthe information processing apparatus from an information provider to theuser, said activity management system characterized by comprising: anapparatus manufacture management terminal device for managingmanufacture of said information processing apparatus, and managing asales price of said apparatus manufacturer; an information provisionmanagement terminal device managed as to provide to a user, availableinformation contents at said information processing apparatus and tocollecting a charge; and a sales activity management apparatus forsetting an amount of money to be remitted to said manufacture accordingto charge information input from said information provision terminaldevice.

In a sales activity management system according to the presentinvention, for example, a license contrast is made with respect to salesof an information processing apparatus and information contents betweenan apparatus manufacturer and an information provider. The informationprocessing apparatus is manufactured and forwarded to a user for salesfrom an apparatus manufacture management terminal device at a pricelower than the apparatus manufacturer's desired selling price. On theother hand, if available information contents at the informationprocessing apparatus is provided from the information provisionmanagement terminal device to a user, the charge is managed so as to becollected by the information provision management terminal device. Inthe sales activity management apparatus, in order to manage aninformation provision management terminal device and an apparatusmanufacture management terminal device based on a license agreement, anamount of money (royalty) to be remitted to the apparatus manufactureris set according to charge information input from the informationprovision terminal device.

Therefore, the payment of royalty produced under a license agreementmade between the apparatus manufacturer and the information provider canbe automatically managed. Moreover, the sales of information processingapparatus and information contents can be promoted. This royaltyincludes an amount corresponding to a difference generated because theapparatus manufacturer provides the information processing apparatus toa user at a low price, interest during the license agreement, and thecharge based on the license agreement. In this manner, the user canobtain the information processing apparatus at a price lower than theapparatus manufacturer's desired selling price. As a result of manyinformation processing apparatuses becoming popular among users, thereare many opportunities for the users to use information contents causedby the information provider. As a result, it is expected that anincreased amount of royalty is paid from the user to the informationprovider.

In this manner, there are an increased amount of money for thedifference returned from the information provider to the apparatusmanufacturer. Thus, the sales and profits of each of the apparatusmanufacturer and information provider produced under. Moreover, therecan be expanded the manufacturing technology field of the informationprocessing apparatus, the technical field of providing the informationcontents used therefor, and the business scale of the entire informationprocessing medium concerning the third party of the user that uses theseinformation processing apparatus or information contents, which greatlycontributes to industrial development.

The sales activity management apparatus according to the presentinvention is directed to an apparatus for integrally managing businessesof selling an information processing apparatus from the apparatusmanufacturer to the user, and selling the available information contentsat the information processing apparatus from the information provider tothe user, the apparatus being characterized by comprising: operationmeans for operating sales information concerning a sales quantity of theinformation processing apparatus and use information on informationcontents to be accepted; storage means for storing sales information onan information processing apparatus and use information on informationcontents accepted by this operation means; and management control meansfor setting an amount of money to be remitted to the apparatusmanufacturer according to sales information and use information storedin this storage means.

In the sales activity management apparatus according to the presentinvention, in the case of integrally managing businesses for selling aninformation processing apparatus from the apparatus manufacturer to theuser, and selling the available information contents at the informationprocessing apparatus from the information provider to the user, when alicense agreement is made in advance between the apparatus manufacturerand information provider, operation means is operated so as to acceptsales information concerning the sales quantity of informationprocessing apparatus and use count of the information contents. Thesales information-on the information processing apparatus accepted bythis operation means and use information on the information contents arestored in storage means. Management control is performed so as to anamount of money remitted to the apparatus manufacturer according to thesales information and use information stored in this storage means.

For example, management control is performed so as to return an amountof money corresponding to a difference produced because the apparatusmanufacturer provides an information processing apparatus to a user at alow price from the information provider to the apparatus manufactureraccording to an amount of money for the charge collected from the user.

Therefore, the payment of royalty produced under the license agreementmade between the apparatus manufacturer and the information provider canbe automatically managed. Moreover, the sales promotion of theinformation processing apparatus and information contents can beassisted.

The sales activity management method according to the present inventionis directed to a method of managing businesses of selling an informationprocessing apparatus from an apparatus manufacturer to a user, andselling available information contents at the information processingapparatus from the information provider to the user, characterized inthat a license agreement concerning the sales of information processingapparatus and information contents is made between the apparatusmanufacturer and the information provider, the manufacture of theinformation processing apparatus is managed, the information processingapparatus is forwarded to the user for sales at the apparatusmanufacturer's sales price, available information contents at theinformation processing apparatus is provided to the user, the charge iscollected, and an amount of money to be remitted to the apparatusmanufacturer is set according to an amount of money for the chargecollected from the user.

In the sales activity management method according to the presentinvention, even in the case where an information processing apparatus isforwarded to a user for sales at a price lower than the apparatusmanufacturer's desired price, the royalty produced under the licenseagreement made between the apparatus manufacturer and the informationprovider can be obtained by the apparatus manufacturer. Moreover, thesales of the information processing apparatus and information contentscan be promoted. Moreover, there can be expanded the manufacturingtechnology field of the information processing apparatus, the technicalfield of providing the information contents used therefor, and thebusiness scale of the entire information processing medium concerningthe third party of the user that uses these information processingapparatus or information contents, which greatly contributes toindustrial development.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of materials and money showing an example of abusiness model 104 for satellite broadcasting;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of materials and money showing an example of acommunication business model 203 for a hand held telephone set;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of materials and money showing an example of abusiness model 302 for the game software and home-use game machine;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration of asales activity management system 100 that is a first embodimentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the sales activitymanagement system 100;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration of a setroyalty business system 101 that is a first embodiment according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of materials, license and money showing an exampleof a business model 102 in which a set royalty is applied to broadcastservice;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are flowcharts showing a processing example in theaccounting server system 20;

FIG. 9 is an imaginary view of distribution showing an example ofsetting a sales price in a conventional system that is a comparativeexample;

FIG. 10 is an imaginary view of distribution showing an example ofsetting a sales price in a system according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of materials, license and money showing anexample of a business model 103 in which a set royalty according to asecond embodiment of the present invention is applied to communicationbusiness;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration of asales activity management system 200 that is the second embodimentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing example in the salesactivity management system 200;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of materials, license and money showing anexample of a business model 201 in which a part royalty that is a firstembodiment according to the present invention is applied to broadcastservice;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of materials, license and money showing anexample of a business model 202 in which a part royalty according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention is applied to communicationservice;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration of adevice royalty business system that is a third embodiment according tothe present invention;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of materials, license and money showing anexample of a-business model 301 concerning the same machine and gamesoftware sales activities that is an example according to the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 18A and 18B are flowcharts showing a processing example in theaccounting server system 50.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Now, one embodiment of the sales activity management system, apparatus,and method according to the present invention, will be described herewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

(1) First Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration of asales activity management system 100 according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention.

In the present embodiment, in the case where an apparatus manufacturersells an information processing apparatus to a user, and an informationprovider sells the available information contents at the informationprocessing apparatus to the user, there is provided a sales activitymanagement apparatus for managing sales activities based on a licenseagreement made in advance between the apparatus manufacturer and theinformation provider. Then, an amount of money corresponding to thedifference produced because the apparatus manufacturer provides aninformation processing apparatus to a user at a low price is returnedfrom an information provision management terminal device to an apparatusmanufacture management terminal device according to an amount of moneyof the charge collected from the user so that the payment of royaltyproduced between the apparatus manufacturer and the information providercan be automatically managed, and the sales of the informationprocessing apparatus and information contents can be promoted.

A sales activity management system 100 shown in FIG. 4 is a system formanaging businesses for an apparatus manufacturer 15 to sell aninformation processing apparatus 16 to a user 14, and for an informationprovider 17 to sell available information contents 18 at the informationprocessing apparatus 16 to the user 14. The information processingapparatus 16 includes a tuner device capable of receiving a chargedbroadcast program, a game machine and hand held telephone set or thelike. The information contents 18 include a charged broadcast program orgame software and the like. In this system 100, a license agreement ismade in advance with respect to the sales of these informationprocessing apparatus 16 and information contents 18 between theapparatus manufacturer 15 and the information provider 17.

At least the contents of the license agreement include the following:

-   <1> An information processing apparatus 16 is forwarded to a user 14    for sales at a price lower than the desired sales price of the    apparatus manufacturer 15;-   <2> An information provider returns to an apparatus manufacturer an    amount of money for a difference between the desired sales price of    the apparatus manufacturer 15 and an actual sales price for the user    14 (hereinafter, referred to as an amount of money corresponding to    a difference) in the form of a set royalty according to an amount of    money for a charge collected from the user;-   <3> An amount of money for a set royalty;-   <4> Limit of payment of a set royalty;-   <5> Validity of license;-   <6> Date of enforcement;-   <7> Date of Agreement made; and-   <8> Persons targeted for agreement such as apparatus manufacturer 15    or information provider 17

The set royalty includes an amount of money corresponding to adifference produced because an apparatus manufacturer provides aninformation processing apparatus to a user at a low price or interestduring the license agreement, charge based on license agreement or thelike.

An information provider 17 may be a broadcast service provider thatprovides information contents 18 such as charged broadcast program to auser 14, and collect a reception charge from the user 14 or acommunication service provider that provides telephone call service tothe user 14, and collects a base charge and actual telephone call chargefrom the user 14. Further, the information provider 17 may be aninformation medium seller that manufactures and sells to the user aninformation medium having information contents 18 such as game softwarerecorded therein, and collects a product payment from the user 14.

In this sales activity management system 100, an apparatus manufacturemanagement terminal device 11 is provided at an apparatus manufacturer15, an information processing apparatus 16 incorporating essential parts40 purchased from a part manufacturer, for example, is manufactured andmanaged, and the information processing apparatus 16 is managed so as tobe forwarded to the user 14 for sales at a price lower than the desiredsales price of the apparatus manufacturer 15. A notebook type or desktoptype personal computer is used for this terminal device 11.

To this terminal device 11, an information provision management terminaldevice 12 is connected through a communication line 19 serving ascommunication means. Available information contents 18 at theinformation processing apparatus 16 manufactured by an apparatusmanufacturer 15 are provided to the user, and are managed by theinformation provider 17 so as to collect a charge. For communicationmeans, Internet, telephone line, satellite line, or leased communicationline as well as communication line 19 is used. To this terminal device12, a sales activity management apparatus 13 is connected via thecommunication line 19 so as to manage an apparatus manufacturemanagement terminal device 11 and an information provision managementterminal device 12 based on the license agreement concerning the salesof the information processing apparatus 16 and information contents 18made in advance between the apparatus manufacturer 15 and theinformation provider 17. In the sales activity management apparatus 13,an amount of money to be remitted to the apparatus manufacturer 15 isset according to the charge information input from this terminal device12.

For example, the sales activity management apparatus 13 issues aninstruction so that the information provision management terminal device12 returns to the apparatus manufacture management terminal device 11 anamount of money of the difference produced because the apparatusmanufacturer 15 has provided the information processing apparatus 16 tothe user 14 at a lower price, according to an amount of money for thecharge collected from the user 14.

Otherwise, the sales activity management apparatus 13 controlsinput/output of the above described apparatus manufacture managementterminal device 11 and the information provision management terminaldevice 12 connected via a communication line 19 so as to integrallymanage delivery information concerning the delivery count of essentialparts of the information processing apparatus 16; sales informationconcerning the sales quantity of the information processing apparatus16; or use information concerning use count of information contents 18.

Now, a sales activity management method according to the presentinvention will be described with reference to a processing example inthe system 100. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing example inthe sales activity management system 100.

In the present embodiment, assume that an apparatus manufacturer 15sells an information processing apparatus 16 to a user 14, and aninformation provider 17 sells available information contents 18 at theinformation processing apparatus 16 to the user. In addition,presumedly, a sales activity management apparatus 13 for managing salesactivities is provided based on the license agreement made in advancebetween the apparatus manufacturer 15 and the information provider 17;and an information provision management terminal device 12 returns to anapparatus manufacture management terminal device 11, an amount of moneycorresponding to a difference produced because the apparatusmanufacturer 15 has provided the information processing apparatus 16 tothe user 14 at a low price, the interest during the license agreement,charge based on the license agreement or the like, according to thecharge collected from the user 14.

With these presumptions being defined as sales management conditions, atthe step A1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the license agreementconcerning the sales of the information processing apparatus 16 and theinformation contents 18 is made in advance between the apparatusmanufacturer 15 and the information provider 17. Reference is made tothe above described <1> to <7> for the contents of the licenseagreement.

Then, at the step A2, at the apparatus manufacturer 15 an informationprocessing apparatus 16 to which a set royalty is applied ismanufactured and managed so as to be shipped to shops or the like.

For example, the sales quantity of information processing apparatus 16shipped to shops is grasped as sales information. At the step A3, atshops or the like, the information processing apparatus 16 is forwardedto the user 14 for sales at a price lower than the desired sales priceof the apparatus manufacturer 15. Then, processing goes to the step A4at which it is checked whether or not the information processingapparatus 16 sells. When only one information processing apparatus 16sells, processing goes to the step A5 at which there occurs a paymentcharge right such as an amount of money corresponding to a difference,interest during the license agreement, charge based on the licenseagreement or the like.

On the other hand, in parallel to the manufacture and sales of theinformation processing apparatus 16, at the step A6, the informationprovider 17 provides to the user 14 available information contents 18 atthe information processing apparatus 16. The charge is collected fromthe user 14 by provision of the information contents 18. Then,processing goes to the step A7 at which it is checked whether or not thecharge of information contents 18 has been collected from the user 14.In the case where the charge is not collected from the user 14,processing reverts to the step A6 at which the collection of the chargeis continued. When the charge is collected even for one item, processinggoes to the step A8 at which there occurs liability of an amount ofmoney for a difference relevant to the sales of the informationprocessing apparatus 16.

Then, processing goes to the step A9 at which return processing is donesuch that an amount of money corresponding to a difference producedbecause the apparatus manufacturer 15 has provided an informationprocessing apparatus 16 to a user 14 at a low price is returned from theinformation provider 17 to the apparatus manufacturer 15 according to anamount of money for the charge collected from the user 14.

Then, processing goes to the step A10 at which it is judged whether ornot to terminate management of sales activities. This judgment is madeby both of the information provider 17 and apparatus manufacturer 15.There are two cases; a case where the management is terminated byexpiration of terms according to the license agreement and a case wherethe management is terminated by cancellation. In the case where thissales activity management is not terminated, processing reverts to thesteps A2 and A6 at which the apparatus manufacturer 15 is managed so asto manufacture the information processing apparatus 16 and ship it toshops. Then, in parallel to the manufacture and sales of thisinformation processing apparatus 16, the information provider 17provides information contents 18 to the user 14, and collects the chargefrom the user 14.

Therefore, the payment of royalty including an amount of moneycorresponding to the difference produced under the license agreementmade between the apparatus manufacturer 15 and the information provider17 can be automatically managed. Moreover, the sales of the informationprocessing apparatus 16 and information contents 18 can be promoted. Inthis manner, the user 14 can obtain the information processing apparatus16 at a lower price than the desired sales price of the apparatusmanufacturer 15. As a result of many information processing apparatuses16 becoming popular among the users 14, there are many opportunitiesthat the users use information contents 18 provided by the informationprovider 17. As a result, it is expected that an increased amount ofmoney for charge is paid from the users 14 to the information provider17.

In this way, an increased amount of money for the difference is returnedfrom the information provider 17 to the apparatus manufacturer 15, andthus, the sales and profits of each of the apparatus manufacturer 15 andinformation provider 17 can be increased. Moreover, there can beexpanded the manufacturing technology field of the informationprocessing apparatus 16, the technical field of providing theinformation contents 18 used therefor, and the business scale of theentire information processing medium concerning the third party of theuser 14 that uses these information processing apparatus 16 orinformation contents 18, which greatly contributes to industrialdevelopment.

EXAMPLE 1

FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration of a setroyalty business system 101 according to Example 1 of the presentinvention.

In this example, in the case where a hardware manufacturer sells to auser an information processing apparatus for receiving charged broadcastprograms, and a broadcast service provider broadcasts to the useravailable charged broadcast program contents at the informationprocessing apparatus, an accounting server system 20 for managing a setroyalty is provided based on the license agreement made in advancebetween the hardware manufacturer and the broadcast service provider.

In addition, a set royalty concerning an amount of money for adifference produced because a hardware manufacturer has provided aninformation processing apparatus to a user at a low price, interestduring the license agreement, and charge based on the license agreementor the like is returned from a broadcast service provider managementterminal device 22 shown in FIG. 6 to a hardware manufacturer managementterminal device 21. Then, the payment of royalty produced between thehardware manufacturer and the broadcast service provider can beautomatically managed, and the sales of the information processingapparatus and utilization of charged broadcast programs can be promoted.

A set royalty business system 101 shown in FIG. 6 is provided as anexample of a sales management apparatus. This system comprises at leastan accounting server system 20 shared by the hardware manufacturer andbroadcast service provider so that an amount of money remitted to thehardware manufacturer is set according to the charge information inputfrom the broadcast service provider's terminal device 22. This setroyalty business system 101 integrally manages businesses for thehardware manufacturer to sell a tuner device that is an example ofinformation processing apparatus to a general consumer (user), and forthe broadcast service provider to broadcast to the user, chargedbroadcast program contents that are available information contents atthe tuner device. In this system 101, a license agreement is made inadvance between the hardware manufacturer and the broadcast serviceprovider with respect to sales of these tuner devices and provision ofcharged broadcast programs.

This accounting server system 20 has a local network 27. To this localnetwork 27, there is connected a hardware manufacturer managementterminal device 21 or broadcast activity management terminal device 22that is an example of operation means. The former terminal device 21 isset up at the apparatus manufacturer's site or head office, and is usedfor manufacturing and managing a tuner device. This terminal device 21is operated so as to input manufacture & shipment information concerningthe manufacture count of tuner device. This manufacture & shipmentinformation occurs when the hardware manufacturer manufactures a tunerdevice, and ships such tuner device to shops.

The latter terminal device 22 is set up at the broadcast serviceprovider's site or the like. The broadcast service provider provides toa user the available charged broadcast program contents at the tunerdevice manufactured by the hardware manufacturer, and collects areception charge from the user. This terminal device 22 is operated soas to input subscriber information (number of subscribers) concerningcharged broadcast programs and reception charge collection resultinformation (hereinafter, referred to as “use information”). Theesubscriber information is produced when a contract concerning chargedbroadcast programs is made with the broadcast service provider, and thereception charge collection result information is produced when the userpays a reception charge concerning charged broadcast products to abroadcast service provider.

To these terminal devices 21 and 22, there are connected a hardwaredatabase 24 and a subscriber database 25 that are provided as an exampleof storage means. In the hardware database 24, the manufacture &shipment information on the tuner device input by the hardwaremanufacturer is recorded so that its contents are updated. The salesinformation (sales result information) concerning the sales count of thetuner device is updated by shops. The subscriber database 25 stores useinformation concerning charged broadcast programs inputted by thebroadcast service provider so that its contents are updated. The salesinformation concerning the tuner device as well is updated in thesubscriber database 25.

In this accounting server system 20, there is provided a server mainbody 23 that is provided as an example of management control means. Withrespect to an amount of money for the difference produced because thehardware manufacturer has provided a tuner device to a user at a lowprice, a set royalty including interest during the license agreement, acharge based on the license agreement is managed and controlled so as tobe returned from the broadcast service provider to the hardwaremanufacturer. Specifically, the server main body 23 issues aninstruction so as to return a set royalty from the terminal device 22 tothe terminal device 21.

In this example, a set royalty is paid according to an amount of moneyfor the reception charge collected from the user, namely, based on salesinformation and use information stored in the hardware database 24 andsubscriber database 25 and the license agreement made in advance betweenthe hardware manufacturer and broadcast service provider. This setroyalty is automatically managed and controlled by the server main body23.

To this accounting server system 20, a communication network 29 such asInternet, telephone line, satellite line is connected, and a publicnetwork 30 is connected. To this public network 30, a sales companyterminal device 31 is connected and managed so as to sell to a consumerthe tuner device to which a set royalty is applied at a price lower thanthe hardware manufacturer's desired sales price. The sales information(sales result information) concerning the sales quantity of the tunerdevices sold to the consumers is operated by the terminal device 31 soas to be updated by the subscriber database 25. For example, a specificID number assigned to the tuner device is read by the terminal device 31together with the consumer's private information, and is recorded in thesubscriber database 25.

Otherwise, a manufacturing section terminal device 32 and a partmanufacturer terminal device 33 are connected to the public network 30.The delivery information concerning the delivery count of essentialparts of the tuner device or manufacture & shipment informationconcerning the shipment count of the tuner device and the like istransferred to the hardware database 24. The server main body 23controls input/output of the above mentioned five terminal devices 21,22, 31, 32 and 33 connected via a local network 27, communicationnetwork 29, public network 30 or the like so as to integrally managedelivery information concerning the delivery count of essential parts ofthe tuner device, sales information concerning the sales quantity oftuner device, use information concerning the reception contract count ofcharged broadcast program. A notebook type or desktop type personalcomputer is used for terminal devices 21, 22, 31, 32 and 33.

In this example, tuner device sales information, subscriber informationand reception charge result information are recorded in the subscriberdatabase 25. Thus, information on subscribers using the tuner devices isavailable. That is, the monthly reception charges obtained by the tunerdevices are available.

From these items of subscriber information and reception chargecollection result information, the broadcast service providerperiodically pays to the hardware manufacturer a predeterminedpercentage (for example, 10%) of the monthly reception charge collectedfrom the user as a set royalty. Here, in the case where a userrepurchases an old tuner device for a new product during the samereception contract period, the payment of the set royalty concerningsuch old tuner device is terminated. Then, there is produced a duty ofpaying the set royalty of a new tuner device to the hardwaremanufacturer that manufactures and sells it.

The above mentioned server main body 23, hardware database 24 andsubscriber database 25 are set up at either one of the broadcast serviceprovider and hardware manufacturer based on the license agreement. Inany case as well, the accounting server system 20 can update, browse,maintain data from a specific person from any company or businessoffice.

Therefore, the hardware manufacturer can obtain a set royalty that hasnot been obtained in conventional hardware businesses, and thus, thetuner device can sell at a price lower than the desired sales price incomparison with the conventional system. Assuming that the othermanufacturing conditions or the like are totally identical to those inthe conventional system, in a set royalty business system 101 of thepresent invention, a tuner device will sell better. This results in anincreased number of subscribers, which is preferable.

Now, an example of processing in a set royalty system 101 will bedescribed here. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of materials, license and moneyshowing an example of a business model 102 when a set royalty is appliedto broadcast businesses. FIGS. 8A and 8B are flowcharts showing exampleof processing in an accounting server system 20.

In an example of the business model 102 shown in FIG. 7, the abovedescribed set royalty business system 101 is applied, and a partmanufacturer 42 delivers essential parts 40 to a hardware manufacturer35, and receives a part payment 41. The hardware manufacturer 35 sells atuner device 26 (product) to a consumer (user) 14 at a price lower thanthe desired sales price, and receives a product payment 36. On the otherhand, a broadcast service provider 37 makes reception contractconcerning charged contents 28 with the user 14, and collects a monthlyreception charge 38.

In this example, an accounting server system 20 is provided between thebroadcast service provider 37 and the hardware manufacturer 35, and alicense agreement is made between the broadcast service provider 37 andthe hardware manufacturer 35. Under this license agreement made,hardware manufacture data D1 is transferred from the hardwaremanufacturer 35 to the accounting server system 20, and the data D1 isupdated in a hardware database 24 shown in FIG. 6. From the broadcastservice provider 37, reception charge collection data D2 is transferredto the accounting server system 20, and the data D2 is updated in thesubscriber database 25. Presumedly, with respect to an amount of moneyfor the difference produced because the hardware manufacturer 35 hasprovided a tuner device 26 to a user 14 at a low price, a set royalty(monthly) 34 including interest during the license agreement, chargebased on the license agreement or the like is returned from thebroadcast service provider 37 to the hardware manufacturer 35.

With the above presumption being defined as sales management conditions,in the accounting server system 20, at the step B1 of the flowchartshown in FIG. 8A, the server main body 23 waits for hardware manufacturedata D1 transferred from the terminal device 21. When the hardwaremanufacture data D1 is transferred, processing goes to the step B2. Atthe step B2, every time the tuner device 26 is manufactured and shipped,the hardware database 24 is updated by the hardware manufacturer 35.Hardware manufacture data D1 concerning the tuner device 26 may beregistered every time the hardware manufacture data D1 is shipped or maybe registered monthly in all.

Individual tuber devices 26 registered in this hardware database 24 areprovided for sales and service subscription of charged contents 28 whenthe devices are defined as a platform. Therefore, processing goes to thestep B3 at which the tuner device 26 is actually sold to the tunerdevice 26, and waits until charged contents services are subscribed.

For example, at the step A3 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, at a shop,the tuner device 26 is forwarded to the user for sale at a price lowerthan the desired sales price of the hardware manufacturer 35. Then,processing goes to the step A4 at which it is checked whether or not thetuner device 26 sells. In the case where the tuner device 26 does notsell, processing reverts to the step A5 at which the selling iscontinued. Even when only one tuner device 26 sells, processing goes tothe step A5 at which the right of charge for payment of an amount ofmoney for a difference, interest during the license agreement, chargebased on the license agreement takes place. On the other hand, inparallel to the manufacture and sales of the tuner device 26, at thestep A6 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, available charged contents 28at the tuner device 26 are provided to the user 14.

Then, processing reverts to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8A. At the stepB3, when the sales of tuner device 26 and service subscription ofcharged contents 28 take place, processing goes to the step B4 at whichsales information indicating which number of tuner device 26 sells andsubscriber information (use information) are input, and correlation(authentication) with record contents of the hardware database 24 isperformed. If a tuner device 26 that is not registered in the hardwaredatabase 24 is found, there is a possibility of double contract. Thus,processing goes to the step B13 at which countermeasure against illegalact is taken. In the case whether authentication is valid, processinggoes to the step B5 at which a server main body 23 issues a status tothe hardware database 24, and an attribute with subscriber informationis registered together with ID number of the tuner device 26. Then, aflag is set to the tuner device 26 that “earns” a set royalty 34.

Then, processing goes to the step B6 at which a set of subscriberinformation is registered (accounted) together with ID number of tunerdevice 26 in the subscriber database 25 as well. This is because the anattribute is provided to tuner device that “earns” the set royalty 34.

Then, processing goes to the step B7 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8Bat which it is checked whether or not the tuner device 26 is repurchasedin the subscription contract of the same user 14 accounted in thesubscriber database 25 or whether or not subscription is canceled. If anold tuner device 26 is repurchased for a new tuner device 26 and in thecase where subscription of charged contents 28 is canceled, processinggoes to the step B12 at which the server main body 23 issues a statusthat instructs cancellation to the hardware database 24 and thesubscriber database 25. Thereafter, the tuner device 26 is released fromapplication concerning the set royalty 34, and terminates its role.

On the other hand, at the step B7, in the case where the tuner device 26is not repurchased or subscription is not canceled, processing goes tothe step B8 at which the broadcast service provider 37 waits for monthlyreception charge 38 to be paid from the user 14. This reception charge38 may be settled in all at a specific date and time monthly. Whenreception charge collection data D2 indicating payment of the receptioncharge 38 is input by a terminal device 22, at the step B9, the servermain body 23 issues to the terminal device 22 of the broadcast serviceprovider 37 an instruction for paying the set royalty to a predeterminedaccount of the hardware manufacturer 35.

The server main body 23 performs processing up to outputting thisinstruction. Actual transfer processing is entrusted to an electroniccommerce system strictly managed by additionally provided security. Inaddition, the payment of the set royalty 34 may be collected monthly andsupervised instead of supervising it in real time.

Thereafter, at the server main body 23, at the step B10, an integratedamount° C. of money for the past payment of the set royalty 34 iscomputed by account. An integrated amount C of money for payment iscomputed by formula (1) below, where an amount of set royalty 34 of theprevious month is defined as X, a rate of the set royalty 34 is definedas 10%.C=X+reception charge×0.1  (1)

Further, processing goes to the step B11 at which it is checked whetheror not an accumulated amount C of money for payment reaches an upperpayment limit C_(max) of the set royalty predetermined under a licenseagreement. This check is made for each tuner device In the case wherethis accumulated payment amount C does not reach the upper payment limitC_(max)(C<C_(max)), processing reverts to the step B6. Therefore, at thestep B6, information contained in the subscriber database 25 is updated,and the payment of a next reception charge 38 is waited. Thereafter, theroutines at the steps B6 to B11 are repeated, and one tuner device. 26“earns” the set royalty silently.

At the step B11, in the case where the set royalty 34 reaches thepayment limit. C_(max)(C≧C_(max)), processing goes to the step B12 atwhich the server main body 23 issues to the hardware database 24 and thesubscriber database 25 a status indicating cancellation. Thereafter, thetuner device 26 is released from application concerning the set royalty34, and terminates its role.

After application is released with respect to the set royalty 34 at thestep B12 and after countermeasure against illegal act has been executedat the step B13, processing goes to the step B14 at which it is judgedwhether or not a set royalty system 101 is terminated. This judgment ismade by both of the broadcast service provider 37 and the hardwaremanufacturer 35. there is a case where the license agreement isterminated by expiration of the contract period and a case the agreementis terminated by cancellation. In the case where there exists a tunerdevice 26 that “earns” this set royalty 34, and the system 101 is notterminated, processing goes to the step B1 at which the hardwaremanufacturer 35 manages the tuner device 26 to be manufactured andshipped to shops. Thereafter, the steps B1 to B11 are repeated.

Therefore, the payment of set royalty 34 produced under the licenseagreement made between the hardware manufacturer 35 and the broadcastservice provider 37 can be automatically managed. Moreover, the sales ofthe tuner device 26 and utilization of charged contents 28 can bepromoted. In this manner, the user 14 can obtain the tuner device 26 ata price lower than the desired sales price of the hardware manufacturer35. As a result of many tuner devices 26 being popular among the users14, many of the users 14 make contracts with the broadcast serviceprovider 37 concerning charged contents 28. As a result, an increasedamount of reception charge 38 is paid from the users to the broadcastservice provider 37.

In this way, an increased amount of set royalty 34 is returned from thebroadcast service provider 37 to the hardware manufacturer 35. Thus, thesales and profit of each of the hardware manufacturer 35 and broadcastservice provider 37 produced under. Moreover, there can be expanded themanufacturing technology field of the tuner device, the technical fieldof providing the charged broadcast program contents used therefor, andthe business scale of the entire information processing mediumconcerning the third party of the user that uses these tuner device orcharged broadcast program contents, which greatly contributes toindustrial development.

Here, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, sales activity management of thetuber device 26 according to the present invention is compared with thataccording to the conventional system by exemplifying a specific cost.

According to a conventional system that is Comparative Example shown inFIG. 9, there is shown an example in which the hardware manufacturer 35buys parts of @ 10,000 in unit price from the part manufacturer 42, anda product (tuner device) 26 is shipped to shop 39 at a unit price of @21,000 that is about 2.1 times of a material cost (total part cost)obtained by adding processing cost, fixed cost, and profit to this partunit price.

Then, assuming that shop 39 buys the tuner device 26 at 70% of actualsales price (sales price), the user 14 purchases the tuner device at30,000 Yen. Thus, in order to provide the tuner device 26 to the user 14at a low price, there are only two way, i.e., reducing the margin ofshop so as to further reduce the sales price of the tuner device 26 orreducing the profit of the hardware manufacturer 35 to reduce a shipmentcost.

In the system of the present invention shown in FIG. 10, there is shownan example in which the broadcast service provider 37 that is a platformcompany collects a reception charge 38 from a charged contentssubscriber, and 10% of the reception charge 38 is returned as a setroyalty 34 to the hardware manufacturer 35. Assuming that the receptioncharge is 3,000 Yen monthly, the set royalty 34 is 300 yen per month.Assuming that this income can be expected for one year, the hardwaremanufacturer 35 can obtain 3,600 Yen=300×12 month simply after sales ofthe tuner device 26. Macroscopically, it is equivalent to the fact thata part price is bought at 6,400 Yen=10,000 Yen−3,600 Yen. When this isshipped from the manufacturer at 2.1 times of the material cost in a waysimilar to the delivery conditions of the conventional system, the tunerdevice 26 can be delivered to shop 39 at 13,440 Yen=6,400 Yen×2.1.

In addition, at shop 39, the tuner device 26 is bought at 70% in a waysimilar to the sales conditions of the conventional system, the tunerdevice 26 can be forwarded to the user 14 for sale at 19,200 Yen=13,440Yen/0.7. From the standpoint of the user 14, in comparison with theconventional system, actual purchase price is lowered from 30,000 Yen to19,200 Yen. Thus, if other manufacture conditions are identical, it isexpected that the sales of the tuner device 26 is substantiallyincreased, and its sales quantity significantly increases.

Further, from the standpoint of the part manufacturer 42, the shipmentquantity of essential parts 40 simply increases. From the standpoint ofthe hardware manufacturer 35, the product shipment quantity increasesonly with after-payment of an amount of money for a difference (aportion of the part cost). In addition, in this example, in the firstyear and subsequent, a set royalty is further added, and profitincreases at that time and subsequent. From the standpoint of thebroadcast service provider 37, although 10% of the reception charge 38is distributed to the hardware manufacturer 35, the number ofsubscribers significantly increases. Thus, there can be obtained anadvantageous effect that the profits of all companies involved in thesystem 101 increase in viewpoint of economy.

EXAMPLE 2

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of materials, license, and money showing abusiness model example in which a set royalty according to Example 2 ofthe present invention is applied to communication business.

In an example of a business model 103 shown in FIG. 11, the abovedescribed set royalty business system 101 is applied, and the partmanufacturer 42 delivers essential parts 40 of a hand held telephone set46, for example, to the hardware manufacturer 35 and receives a partpayment 41. The hardware manufacturer 35 sells a hand held telephone set46 (product) to a consumer (user) at a price lower than the desiredsales price, and receives a product payment 36. On the other hand, acommunication service provider 47 makes subscriber contract with a user14 concerning a telephone call service 48, and collects monthly basecharge+actual telephone call charge 58.

In addition, in this example, an accounting server system 20 is providedbetween the communication service provider 47 and the hardwaremanufacturer 35, and a license agreement is made between thecommunication service provider 47 and the hardware manufacturer 35.Under the license agreement, the communication service provider 47provides to the hardware manufacturer 35 a technical standard concerninga hand held telephone set 46 in order for the hardware manufacturer tomanufacture a hand held telephone set 46 in conformity withcommunication mode in which a telephone call service 48 is available.Under this license agreement, the hardware manufacturer 35 transfershardware manufacture data D1 to the accounting server system 20, and thedata D1 is updated in a hardware database 24 shown in FIG. 6. Thecommunication service provider 47 transfers telephone call chargecollection data D3 to the accounting server system 20, and the data D3is updated in a subscriber database 25.

With respect to an amount of money for the difference produced becausethe hardware manufacturer 35 has provided a hand held telephone set 46to a user 114 at a low price, a set royalty (monthly) 34 includingassociated interest or charge based on the license agreement or the likeis returned from the communication service provider 37 to the hardwaremanufacturer 35.

Hereinafter, a company that takes a form that an accounting serversystem 20 is provided between the communication service provider 47 andthe hardware manufacturer 35 shown in FIG. 11 is referred to as acarrier 51. With respect to a processing example of the accountingserver system 20 in this carrier 51, in the flowchart shown in FIGS. 8Aand 8B, broadcast service provider 37 is reread as communication serviceprovider 47; tuner device 26 is reread as hand held telephone set 46;reception charge 38 is reread as base charge+actual telephone callcharge 58; and reception charge collection data D2 is reread astelephone call charge collection data D3, whereby processing is executedin a manner similar to business model 102. Therefore, a description ofthis matter is omitted here.

As has been described above, according to Example 2, the payment of setroyalty 34 produced under the license agreement made between thehardware manufacturer 35 and the communication service provider 47 canbe automatically managed by an accounting server system 20. Moreover,the sales of the hand held telephone set 46 and utilization of telephonecall service 48 can be promoted. In this manner, the user 14 can obtaina hand held telephone set 46 at a price lower than the desired salesprice of the hardware manufacturer 35. As a result of many hand heldtelephone sets 46 being popular among the users 14, many of the users 14make contracts with telephone call service 48 provided by thecommunication service provider 47, and an increased amount of basecharge+actual telephone call charge 58 is paid from the user 14 to thecommunication service provider 47.

In this manner, an increased amount of set royalty 34 is returned fromthe communication service provider 47 to the hardware manufacturer 35.Thus, the sales and profits of the hardware manufacturer 35 andcommunication service provider 47 can be increased. Moreover, there canbe expanded a business scale of the entire information processing mediumconcerning the manufacturing technology technical field of providingtelephone call service 48 applied thereto, and these hand held telephonesets 46 or telephone call service 48 and the like, which greatlycontributes to industrial development.

(2) Second Embodiment

FIG. 12 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration of asales activity management system 200 according to the second embodimentof the present invention.

In the present embodiment, there is shown a case in which a partmanufacturer 42 that manufactures essential parts 40 of an informationprocessing apparatus 16 such as tuner device or hand held telephone settakes part in set royalty business, and sells to an apparatusmanufacturer 15 the essential parts 40 to be incorporated in theinformation processing apparatus 16 at a price lower than the desiredsales price of the part manufacture 42. In this case, in a salesactivity management apparatus 13 shown in FIG. 12, an amount of moneycorresponding to a difference produced because the part manufacturer 42has provided essential parts 40 to the apparatus manufacturer 15 at alow price is managed and controlled so as to be returned from theapparatus manufacturer 15 to the part manufacturer 42 according to anamount of collection of the charge paid from the user to an informationprovider 17. Like reference numbers and elements in the first embodimenthave the same functions. A description of such elements is omitted here.

In a sales activity management system 200 shown in FIG. 12, a licenseagreement is made among the apparatus manufacturer 15, informationprovider 17, and part manufacturer 42 with respect to sales of theseessential parts 40, information processing apparatus 16 and informationcontents 18. The license agreement may be made separately between theapparatus manufacturer 15 and the information provider 17 or between theapparatus manufacturer 15 and the part manufacturer 42. With respect tothe contents of the license agreement, an amount of money for price ofparts provided or part royalty and the like is added to <1> to <8>described in the first embodiment. The part royalty denotes an amount ofmoney including an amount of money for the difference produced becausethe part manufacturer 42 has provided essential parts 40 at a low priceor associated interest, charge based on the license agreement or thelike.

The information provider 17 may be a broadcast service provider thatprovides to a user 14 information contents 18 such as charged broadcastprograms, and collects a reception charge from the user 14 in a mannersimilar to the first embodiment or may be a communication serviceprovider that provides telephone call service to a user 14, and collectsa base charge and an actual telephone call charge from the user 14.Further, the information provider 17 may be an information medium sellerthat manufactures and sells an information medium having informationcontents 18 such as game software recorded therein to a user 14, andthat collects a product payment from the user 14.

In this sales activity management system 200, a part manufacturemanagement terminal device 33 is connected to a communication line 19described in the first embodiment. At the part manufacturer 42, theessential parts 40 of the information processing apparatus 16 to which aset royalty is applied is manufactured, and a terminal device 33 ismanaged so as to sell the essential parts 40 to the apparatusmanufacturer 15 at a price lower than the desired sales price of thepart manufacturer 42.

A sales activity management apparatus 13 is connected to this terminaldevice 33 through the communication line 19 so that an amount of moneyto be remitted to the hardware manufacturer is set according to thecharge information inputted from the terminal device 12 of theinformation provider 17. For example, at the sales activity managementapparatus 13, an instruction is issued such that an amount of money forthe difference produced because the part manufacturer 42 has providedessential parts 40 to the apparatus manufacturer 15 at a low price isremitted from the apparatus manufacturer management terminal device 11to the part management terminal device 33 according to an amount ofcollected money for the charge paid from the user 14 to the informationprovider 17.

With respect to this amount of money corresponding to the difference asdescribed above, apart from a case in which the terminal device 11issues an instruction to the terminal device 33, the informationprovision management terminal device 12 may issue an instruction suchthat the above amount of money is remitted to the part manufacturemanagement terminal device 33. The sales activity management apparatus13 controls input/output of the above describe apparatus manufacturemanagement terminal device 11, an information provision managementterminal device 12 and an part manufacture management terminal device 33so as to integrally manage delivery information concerning the deliverycount of essential parts 40 of the information processing apparatus 16,sales information concerning sales count of the information processingapparatus 16, use information concerning the use count of informationcontents 18 or the like. A notebook type or desktop type personalcomputer is used for these terminal devices 11, 12 and 13.

In this sales activity management system 200 as well, the apparatusmanufacturer 15 manufactures and manages the information processingapparatus 16 that incorporates essential parts 40 purchased from thepart manufacture 42 at a low price. In addition, the terminal device 11is managed so as to sell the information processing apparatus 16 to theuser 14 at a price lower than the desired sales price of the apparatusmanufacturer 15.

Now, a processing example of the system 200 will be described withrespect to the sale activity management method according to the presentinvention. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing example of thesales activity management system 200.

In the present embodiment, assume a case in which the apparatusmanufacturer 15 sells to the user 14 the information processingapparatus 16 to which a set royalty is applied, and the informationprovider 17 sells to the user 14 available information contents 18 atthe information processing apparatus 16, and a case in which essentialparts 40 of the information processing apparatus 16 are delivered to theapparatus manufacturer 15 at a price lower than the desired sales priceof the part manufacturer 42.

In addition, assume that sales activity management apparatus 13 formanaging sales activity of the information processing apparatus to whicha set royalty is applied is provided based on the license agreement madein advance among the part manufacturer 42, apparatus manufacturer 15 andinformation provider 17, and an amount of money for the differenceproduced because the part manufacturer 42 has provided essential parts40 of the information processing apparatus 16 to the apparatusmanufacturer 15 at a low price, the associated interest, and the chargebased on the license agreement or the like is remitted from theinformation management terminal device 12 to the part manufacturermanagement terminal device 33 via the apparatus manufacture managementterminal device 11 according to an amount of money for the chargecollected from the user 14.

With this being defined as sales management conditions, at the step C1of the flowchart shown in FIG. 13, the license agreement concerning thesales of the information processing apparatus 16 and informationcontents 18 is made among the part manufacturer 42, apparatusmanufacturer 15, and information provider 17. With respect to thecontents of the license agreement, in addition to <1> to <7> of thefirst embodiment, an amount of money for part provision price and partroyalty or the like are referred to.

Thereafter, at the step C2, the part manufacturer 42 manufacturesessential parts 40 to which a part royalty is applied. When the orderedquantity of essential parts 40 is manufactured, processing goes to thestep C3 at which the part manufacturer 42 manages the terminal device 33so as to deliver the essential parts 40 to the apparatus manufacturer15. Then, the essential parts 40 are delivered to the apparatusmanufacturer 1 at a price lower than the desired sales price of the partmanufacturer 42.

In the case where even one essential part 40 is delivered to theapparatus manufacturer 15 at the step C4, the delivery count is recordedas part delivery information in the part manufacturer database by usingthe terminal device 33. In the case where essential parts 40 meeting theordered quantity is not delivered at the step C4, processing goes to thestep C3 at which the delivery of the essential parts 40 is continued.Therefore, when even one part essential part 40 is delivered, processinggoes to the step C5 at which a right of charge for payment such as anamount of money for the difference, associated interest, or charge basedon the license agreement takes place.

Insubstantial parallel to manufacture of the essential parts 40, at thestep C6, the apparatus manufacturer 15 manages the terminal device 11 soas to manufacture the information processing apparatus 16 incorporatingessential parts 40 delivered from the part manufacturer 42 and ship theapparatus to shops. For example, the sales count of the informationprocessing apparatus 16 shipped to shops is grasped as salesinformation. Then, at the step C7, at shops, the information processingapparatus 16 is forwarded to the user 1 for sales at a price lower thanthe desired sales price of the apparatus manufacturer 15.

Thereafter, processing goes to the step C8 at which it is checkedwhether or not the information processing apparatus 16 sells. In thecase where the information processing apparatus 16 does not sell,processing reverts to the step C7 at which the sales is continued. Wheneven one information processing apparatus 16 sells, processing goes tothe step C9 at which a right of charge for payment such as an amount ofmoney for the difference, associated interest, or charge based on thelicense agreement takes place.

On the other hand, in parallel to manufacture and sales of the essentialparts 40 or information processing apparatus 16 and the like, at thestep C10, the information provider 17 provides to the user 14 availableinformation contents 18 at the information processing apparatus 16.Although the charge is collected from the user 14 by provision of theinformation contents 18, processing goes to the step C11 at which it ischecked whether or not the charge of information contents 18 iscollected from the user 14. In the case where the charge is notcollected from the user 14, processing reverts to the step C12 at whicha payment duty of an amount of money for the difference takes placerelevant to the sales of the information processing apparatus 16 towhich a set royalty is applied.

Then, processing goes to the step C13 at which return processing is donesuch that the information provider 17 returns to the apparatusmanufacturer 15 an amount of money produced because the apparatusmanufacturer 15 has provided the information processing apparatus 16 tothe user 14 at a low price, according to an amount of money for thecharge collected from the user 14. In the second embodiment, theapparatus manufacturer 15 returns to the part manufacturer 42 an amountof money for the difference produced because the apparatus manufacturer15 has provided essential parts 40 to the apparatus manufacturer 1 at alow price.

Thereafter, processing goes to the step C14 at which it is judgedwhether or not sales activity management is terminated. This judgment ismade through negotiation among the part manufacturer 42, informationprovider 17 and apparatus manufacturer 15. This is because the benefitsof these three parties depend on this judgment. There are a case wherethe sales activity management is terminated by expiration of thecontract period according to the license agreement and a case in whichthe management is terminated by cancellation. In the case where thissales activity management is not terminated, processing reverts to stepsC2, C6 and C10 at which the part manufacturer 42 manufactures essentialparts 40, and manages them so as to be delivered to the apparatusmanufacturer 15; the apparatus manufacturer 15 manufactures theinformation processing apparatus 16 having the essential parts 40incorporated therein, and manages the apparatus so as to be delivered toshops; the information provider 17 provides information contents 18 tothe user 14 in parallel to the manufacture delivery and sales of theessential parts 40 and information processing apparatus 16; and thecharge is collected from the user 14.

Therefore, the payment of charge produced under the license agreementmade between the apparatus manufacturer 15 and the information provider17 or between the apparatus manufacturer 15 and the part manufacturer 42can be automatically managed by the sales activity-management apparatus13. Moreover, the sales of essential parts 40, information processingapparatus 16 and its information contents 18 can be promoted. In thismanner, as in the first embodiment, the user can obtain the informationprocessing apparatus 16 having essential-parts 40 incorporated thereinat a price lower than the desired sales price of the apparatusmanufacturer 15. As a result of the information processing apparatus 16incorporating essential parts becoming popular among the users, thereare many opportunities that the users use information contents 18 causedby the information provider 17. As a result, it is expected that anincreased amount of charge is paid from the user to the informationprovider 17.

In this manner, an increased amount of money for the difference is paidfrom the information provider 17 to the apparatus manufacturer 15 andthe apparatus manufacturer 15 to the part manufacturer 42. Thus, thesale profit of each of the part manufacturer 42, apparatus manufacturer15 and information provider 17 can be improved. Moreover, there can beexpanded the manufacturing technology field of essential parts 40 andinformation processing apparatus 16, technical field of providinginformation contents 18 used therein, and users who uses the informationprocessing apparatus 16 having essential parts therein or informationcontents 1.8, which greatly contributes to industrial development.

EXAMPLE 1

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of materials, license and money showing abusiness model example when a part royalty that is Example 1 accordingto the present invention is applied to broadcast service.

In this example, there is shown a model in which part or all of the setroyalty 34 is returned as a part royalty 44 to a part manufacturer 42.In this as, in an accounting server system 20, part mount data D4indicating what essential-parts 40 are used for which of the tunerdevice 26 shipped from the hardware manufacturer 35 is registered andmanaged by the accounting server system 20.

In an example of the business model 201 shown in FIG. 14, the abovedescribed sales activity management system 20 is applied, and the partmanufacturer 42 delivers essential parts 40 of the tuner device 26 to ahardware manufacture 35 at a price lower than the desired deliveryprice, and receives a part payment 41. The hardware manufacturer 35sells the tuner device 26 (product) containing essential parts to aconsumer (user) 14 at a price lower than the desired sales price, andreceives a product payment 36. On the other hand, the broadcast serviceprovider 37 makes a reception contract concerning charged contents 28with the user 14, and collects a monthly reception charge 38.

In addition, in this example, the accounting server system 20 isprovided between the broadcast service provider 37 and the hardwaremanufacturer 35, and the license agreement is made among the partmanufacturer 42, hardware manufacturer 35 and broadcast service provider37. Under this license agreement, the hardware manufacturer 35 transfershardware manufacture data D1 to the accounting server system 20, andthis data D1 is updated in a hardware database 24 shown in FIG. 6.

This broadcast service provider 37 transfers reception charge collectiondata D2 to the accounting server system 20, and this data D2 is updatedin a subscriber database 25. With respect to an amount of money for thedifference produced because the hardware manufacturer 35 has providedthe tuner device 26 to the user 14 at a low price, a set royalty(monthly) 34 including the associated interest and the charge based onthe license agreement is returned from the broadcast service provide 37to the hardware manufacturer 35. Further an amount of money for thedifference produced because the essential parts 40 of the tuner device26 have been provided at a price lower than the desired sales price isreturned as a part royalty 44 from the hardware manufacturer 35 to thepart manufacturer 42.

A company in the form that an accounting server system 20 is providedbetween the broadcast service provider 37 and the hardware manufacturer35 shown in FIG. 14 is referred to as a platform company 52. Accordingto the accounting server system 20 in this platform company 52, thepayment of the part royalty 44 produced under the license agreementbetween the hardware manufacturer 35 and the broadcast service provider37 or between the hardware manufacturer 35 and the part manufacturer 42can be automatically managed. Moreover, the sales of the essential parts40, tuner device 26 and its charged contents 28 can be promoted.

Therefore, the user 14 can obtain the tuner device 26 having essentialparts 40 incorporated therein at a price lower than the desired salesprice of the hardware manufacturer 35. As a result of the tuner device26 having essential parts incorporated therein becoming popular amongthe user 14, there is many opportunities that the user 14 utilizesinformation contents 18 caused by the broadcast service provider 37. Asa result, it is expected that an increased amount of the charge is paidfrom the user 14 to the broadcast service provider 37.

In this manner, an increased amount of money for the difference isreturned from the broadcast service provider 37 to the hardwaremanufacturer 35 and the hardware manufacturer 35 to the partmanufacturer 42. Thus, the sales and profit of each of the partmanufacturer 42, hardware manufacturer 35 and broadcast service provider37 can be increased. Moreover, from the standpoint of the broadcastservice provider 37 that is a platform, a business risk burdened singlyis shared by the hardware manufacturer 35 or part manufacturer 42 sothat the risk can be dispersed in the entire associated companies.

Further, there can be expanded a business scale of the entireinformation processing media concerning the manufacturing technologyfield of the essential parts 40 and tuner device 26, technical field ofproviding charged contents 28 used therefor, and information processingapparatus, the technical field of providing the information contentsused therefor, and the user 14 that uses the tuner device 26 containingessential parts or charged contents 28 or the like, which greatlycontributes to industrial development.

EXAMPLE 2

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of materials, license and money sowing a businessmodel example when a part royalty according to Example 2 of the presentinvention is applied to communication service.

In an example of a business model 202 shown in FIG. 15, the abovedescribed sales activity management system 201 is applied. The partmanufacturer 42 delivers, for example, essential parts 40 of a hand heldtelephone set 46 to a hardware manufacture 35 at a price lower than thedesired delivery price, and receives a part payment 41. The hardwaremanufacturer 35 sells a hand held telephone set 46 (product) to aconsumer (user) 14 at a price lower than the desired sales price, andreceives a product payment 36. On the other hand, the communicationservice provider 47 makes the subscription contract concerning telephonecall service 48 with the user 14, and collects a monthly base charge+anactual telephone call charge 58.

In addition, in this example, an accounting server system 20 is providedbetween the communication service provider 47 and the hardwaremanufacturer 35. In addition, the license agreement is made between thepart manufacturer 42 and the hardware manufacturer 35 or between thecommunication service provider 47 and the hardware manufacturer 35.Under the license agreement, there is provided a technical standardconcerning a hand held telephone set 46 from the communication serviceprovider 47 to the hardware manufacturer 35 in order to manufacture thehand held telephone set 46 in conformity with the communication mode inwhich a telephone call service 48 is acceptable. Under this licenseagreement, the hardware manufacturer 35 transmits hardware manufacturedata D1 to the accounting server system 20, and this data D1 is updatedin the hardware database 24 shown in FIG. 6. The communication serviceprovider 47 transfers telephone call charge collection data D3 to theaccounting server system 20, and this data D3 is updated in thesubscriber database 25.

With respect to an amount of money for the difference produced becausethe hardware manufacturer 35 has provided a hand held telephone set 46to the user 14 at a low price, a set royalty (monthly) 34 including theassociated interest, the charge based on the license agreement and thelike is returned from the communication service provider 37 to thehardware manufacturer 35. Further, an amount of money for the differenceproduced because the essential parts 40 of the hand held telephone set46 has been provided at a price lower than the desired sales price isreturned as a part royalty 44 from the hardware manufacturer 35 to thepart manufacturer 42.

According to the accounting server system 20 in a carrier 53 shown inFIG. 15, the payment of a set royalty 34 produced under the licenseagreement made among the part manufacturer 42, hardware manufacturer 35,and communication service provider 47. Moreover, the sales of theessential parts 40 or hand held telephone set 46 and the like and theutilization of telephone call service 48 can be promoted.

Therefore, the user 14 can obtain a hand held telephone set 46 at aprice lower than the desired sales price of the hardware manufacturer35. As a result of many hand held telephone sets 46 becoming popularamong the user 14, there are an increased number of contracts that theuser 14 makes telephone call service 48 by the communication serviceprovider 47. As a result, an avoidably increased number of basecharge+actual telephone call charge 58 is paid from the user 14 to thecommunication provider 47.

In this manner, an increased number of set loyalties 34 is returned fromthe communication service provider 47 to the hardware manufacture 35. Anincreased number of part loyalties 44 is returned from the hardwaremanufacturer 35 to the part manufacturer 42. Thus, the sales and profitsof each of the part manufacturer 42, hardware manufacturer 35 andcommunication service provider 47 can be increased. Moreover, there canbe expanded a business scale of the entire information processing mediumconcerning the manufacturing technology field of essential parts 40 andhand held telephone set 46, technical field of providing telephone callservice 48 applied thereto, and these hand held telephone sets 46 ortelephone call service 48 and the like, which greatly contributes toindustrial development.

(3) Third Embodiment

FIG. 16 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration of adevice royalty business system 300 that is a third embodiment accordingto the present invention.

In the present embodiment, there is shown a case in which a licenseagreement is made between an information medium seller (hereinafter,referred to as a software manufacturer) and a hardware manufacturer. Inaddition, an accounting server system 50 is installed in a hardwaremanufacturer that is a format holder (license holder), and the partroyalty described in the second embodiment is introduced into the system300. The software manufacturer is a company that pays software royaltyto the hardware manufacturer, manufactures an information recordingmedium recording game software or the like that is an example ofinformation contents, sells the information recording medium to the user14, and collects a product payment to the user 14.

In a device royalty business system 300 shown in FIG. 16, an accountingserver system 50 is provided. In the case where a game machine for gamesoftware that is an example of an information processing apparatusmanufactured based on its own license is forwarded to the user for salesfrom the hardware manufacturer, and in the case where available gamesoftware at the hardware manufacturer is forwarded to the user for salesfrom the software manufacturer, a device royalty is managed based on thelicense agreement made in advance between the hardware manufacturer andthe software manufacture or the license agreement made between the partmanufacturer and the hardware manufacturer. The device royalty is aconcept formed by combining the software royalty and part royalty. Thesoftware royalty has the substantially same meaning as set royalty.

This accounting server system 50 has a local network 27. To this localnetwork 27, there is connected a accounting server terminal device 54that is an example of operation means. This terminal device 54 isinstalled at the hardware manufacturer's manufacturing site or headoffice that is a format holder, and is used for manufacture andmanagement of a game machine. This terminal device 54 is operated so asto input product shipment information concerning the manufacture countof the game machine. This manufacture shipment information is generatedwhen a game machine is manufactured by the hardware manufacturer or whenthe game machine is shipped to shops.

To this terminal device 54, there is connected a part manufacturerdatabase 56 that is an example of storage means through a local network2. In a part manufacturer database 56 base on the delivery of essentialparts 40 from the part manufacturer, part delivery information isrecorded at the hardware manufacturer so that its contents are updated.At this time, sales information (sales result information) concerningthe sales quantity of game machine may be updated.

At this accounting server system 50, there is provided a server mainbody 55 that is an example of management control means so that an amountof money to be remitted to the hardware manufacturer is set according togame software sales information inputted from a software manufacturerterminal device 57. For example, in the server main body 55, withrespect to an amount of money for the difference produced because thehardware manufacturer has provided the game machine to the user at a lowprice, a software royalty containing the associated interest or thecharge based on the license agreement is managed and controlled so as tobe returned from the software manufacturer to the hardware manufacturer.Specifically, the server main body 55 issues an instruction so that thesoftware manufacturer returns the software royalty to the hardwaremanufacturer or so that the hardware manufacturer returns a part royaltyto a part manufacturer.

In this example, according to the product payment of game softwarecollected from the user, the software royalty is paid from the softwaremanufacturer to the hardware manufacturer based on part deliveryinformation stored in the part manufacturer database 56, the licenseagreement made in advance between the hardware manufacturer and thesoftware manufacturer, and the license agreement made between the partmanufacturer and the hardware manufacturer, and a part royalty is paidfrom the hardware manufacturer to the part manufacturer. These paymentsare made so as to be automatically managed and controlled by the servermain body 55.

To this accounting server system 50, a communication network 29 such asInternet, telephone line or satellite line is connected as in the firstembodiment, and a public network 30 is connected. A software manufactureterminal device 57 is connected to this public network 30 so that gamesoftware applicable to the game machine to which a device royalty isapplied is managed to be forwarded to the consumer for sales Theterminal device 57 is installed at the software manufacturer. Thesoftware manufacturer manufactures game software and sells it to theuser based on the license agreement made with the hardware manufacturer.Therefore, the software manufacturer is liable for the payment ofsoftware royalty to the hardware manufacturer.

To this public network 30, a sales department terminal device 31 as wellas terminal device 57 is connected as in the first embodiment. Then, thegame machine to which a device royalty is applied is managed so as to beforwarded to the consumer for sales at a price lower than the desiredsales price of the hardware manufacturer. Although sales information(sales result information) concerning sales quantity of game machinessold to the consumers is not required to be updated unlike the firstembodiment, the information is updated in the part manufacturer database56 in order to correlate with essential parts.

Further, the manufacturing department terminal device 32 and partmanufacturer terminal device 33 are connected to the public network 30.Then deliver information concerning delivery count of essential partsfor the game machine or product shipment information concerning shipmentcount of the game machine are transferred to the part manufacturerdatabase 56. The server main body 55 controls input/output of the abovementioned five terminal devices 31, 32, 33, 54 and 57 connected via alocal network 27, a communication network 29, or a public network 30 andthe like so as to integrally manage delivery information concerning thedelivery count of essential parts of the game machine or informationconcerning payment state of software royalty. A notebook type or desktoppersonal computer is used for terminal devices 31, 32, 33, 54 and 57.

Now, a processing example of a device royalty system 300 will bedescribed here. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of materials, license and moneyshowing an example of a business model 301 concerning a game machine andgame software sales business that are examples according to the presentinvention. FIGS. 18A and 18B are flowcharts showing processing examples1 and 2 of the accounting server system 50.

In these examples, there is shown a model for returning part of softwareroyalty 64 as a part royalty 44 to a part manufacturer 42. In thebusiness model 301 shown in FIG. 17, the above described device royaltybusiness model 300 is applied. Then the part manufacturer 42 deliversessential parts 40 of the game machine 66 to the hardware manufacturerat a price lower than the desired delivery price, and receives a partpayment 41. The hardware manufacturer 35 sells the game machine 66(product) having essential parts incorporated therein to the consumer(user) 14 at a price lower than the desired sales price, and receives aproduct payment 36. On the other hand, the software manufacturer 67sells game software to the user 14, and receives a product payment.

In this example, an accounting server system 50 is provided to thehardware manufacturer 35 that is a format holder 60. In addition, alicense agreement is made between the part manufacturer 42 and thehardware manufacturer 35, and a license agreement 80 is made between thehardware manufacturer 35 and the software manufacturer 67. In theaccounting server system 50, there is stored hardware manufacture dataD1 indicating the type, quantity and time of information processingapparatus (set) such as game machine 66 delivered in market and thecontents of payment of part royalty 44 between the hardware manufacturer35 and each part manufacturer 42. In addition, detailed data concerningthe payment state of software royalty 64 from the software manufacturer67 is registered in the accounting server system 50.

This software manufacturer 67 transfers software sales data D5 to theaccounting server system 50, and (this data D5 is updated in the partmanufacturer database 56). With respect to an amount of money for thedifference produced because the hardware manufacturer 35 has providedthe game machine 66 at a price lower than the user 14, the softwareroyalty (monthly) 64 including the associated interest and the chargebased on the license agreement 80 is returned from the softwaremanufacturer 67 to the hardware manufacturer 35. Further, an amount ofmoney for the difference produced because essential parts 40 of the gamemachine 66 has been delivered at a price lower than the desired salesprice is returned as a part royalty 44 from the hardware manufacturer 35to the part manufacturer 42.

Presumedly, at the step E1 that is a flowchart shown in FIG. 18A, whenthe part manufacturer 42 making a license agreement concerning a partroyalty 44 delivers targeted essential parts 44 to the hardwaremanufacturer 35, processing goes to the step E2 at which inspectioncheck is performed. This inspection check may be made collectivelymonthly, for example, even if essential parts 40 are supervised in areal time. Then, processing goes to the step E10 at which essentialparts 40 in which faults are found during inspection check are returnedto the part manufacturer 42, and processing such as request for faultanalysis is implemented as required.

Essential parts 40 in which inspection check is acceptable (OK) at thestep E2, is registered in a part database 56 of an accounting serversystem 50 at the step E3. Items to be registered in this database 56include the type, price and time of parts delivered from each partmanufacturer and the contents of the license agreement concerning a partroyalty 44 made between the hardware manufacturer 35 and the partmanufacturer 42. These items of information are stored in the database56.

Thereafter, processing goes to the step E4 at which the softwaremanufacturer 67 waits for payment of the software royalty 64. Whenpayment of the software royalty 64 occurs, an instruction for payingpart of the software royalty 64 to a predetermined account of the partmanufacturer 42 in accordance with the contents of the license agreementis issued from the accounting server system 50 to the terminal device 33of the part manufacturer 42 or the like. The accounting server system 50performs processing until this instruction has been outputted.

Actual transfer processing is entrusted to an E-commerce system strictlymanaged in additionally provided security. In addition, the payment ofsoftware royalty 64 may be processed collectively monthly and supervisedinstead of supervising it in a real time.

Thereafter, in the server main body 55 of the accounting server system50 at the step B6, the integrated past payment amount D of the partroyalty 44 is calculated by account. The integrated payment amount D iscomputed by formula 2, where an amount of part royalty 44 of theprevious month is defined as Y and the part royalty 44 is defined as αYen per software.D=Y+software sales quantity×α  (2)

Further, processing goes to the step E7 in the flowchart shown in FIG.18B at which it is checked whether or not the integrated payment amountD reaches payment limit D max of part royalty 44 predetermined under thelicense agreement. This check is made for each game machine. In the casewhere this integrated payment amount D does not reach the payment limitD max of the part royalty 44 (D<D max), processing goes to the step E8at (which it is checked whether or not the contract period of thelicense agreement has expired). In the case where the contract periodhas expired, processing goes to the step E3. Therefore, at the step E3,information on the part manufacturer database 56 is updated, and thepayment of the next software royalty 64 is waited. Thereafter, theroutines at the steps E3 to E8 are repeated, and one essential part 40“earns” part royalty 44 silently.

In the case where the payment amount of the part royalty 44 reachespayment limit D max at the step E8 (D≧D max), processing goes to thestep E9 at which the server main body 55 issues a status for indicatingcancellation to the part manufacturer database 56. Thereafter, theessential parts 40 are released from application concerning the partroyalty 44, and terminates its role.

After application is released with respect to a part royalty 44 at thestep E9, and after processing corresponds to return and/or faultanalysis request or the like at the step E10, processing goes to thestep E11 at which it is judged whether or no a device royalty system 301is terminated. This judgment is made by both of the part manufacturer 42and the hardware manufacturer 35.

There is a case where the system is terminated by expiration of thecontract period according to this license agreement or a case where thesystem is terminated by cancellation. In the case where there existsessential parts 40 that “earn” the part royalty 44, and the system 301is not terminated, processing reverts to the step E1 at which thehardware manufacturer 35 receives delivery of essential parts 40 towhich the part royalty 44 is applied to part manufacture 42,manufactures a game machine 66, and manage the game machine so as to beshipped to shops. Thereafter, the steps E1 to E9 are repeated.

In this way, in an accounting server system 50 according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention, the software manufacturer 67 paysto the part manufacturer 42 part of the software royalty as a partroyalty in accordance with the contents of the contract on part royaltypayment. The part manufacturer 42 can expect a part royalty income, andthus, can deliver essential parts 40 or the like of the game machine 66at a low price. The hardware manufacturer 35 can procure the essentialparts 40 at a low price, and thus, can reduce a set of sales price forthe user.

Therefore, the part manufacturer 42 can obtain a part royalty that hasnot been obtained in conventional hardware business, and thus, can sellthe game machine 66 at a lower price than the desired sales price incomparison with a conventional system. Assuming that other manufacturingconditions or the like are totally identical those of the conventionalsystem, in the device royalty business system 300 of the presentinvention, an increased number of game machines 66 sells. As a result,the number of subscribers as well is increased, which is preferable.

In addition, the payment of the software royalty 64 produced under thelicense agreement made between the hardware manufacturer 35 and thesoftware manufacturer 67 or the payment of the part royalty 44 producedunder the license agreement between the hardware manufacturer 35 and thepart manufacturer 42 can be automatically managed by the accountingserver system 50. Moreover, the sales of the essential parts 40, gamemachine 66 and its game software 68 can be promoted.

Further, the user 14 can obtain the game machine 66 having essentialparts 40: incorporated therein at a lower price than the desired salesprice of the hardware manufacturer 35. As a result of the game machine66 having essential parts incorporated therein becoming popular amongthe users 14, the users 14 purchase the game software 68 caused by thesoftware manufacturer 67 more frequently. As a result, it is expectedthat an increased amount of product payment 78 is paid from the user 14to the software manufacturer 67.

In this manner, an increased amount of the software royalty 64 isreturned from the software manufacturer 67 to the hardware manufacturer35, and an increased amount of the part royalty 44 is returned from thehardware manufacturer 35 to the part manufacturer 42. Thus, the salesand profits of each of the hardware manufacturer 35 and softwaremanufacturer 67 can be increased. Moreover, there can be expanded abusiness scale of the entire information processing media concerning themanufacturing technology field of the essential parts 40 and the gamemachine 66, the technical field of providing the game software 68 usedtherefor, and the users 14 using the game machine 66 having essentialparts incorporated therein or game software 68 and the like, whichgreatly contribute industrial development.

Here, sales activity management systems of the game machine 66(hereinafter, referred to as a “set”) and game software (hereinafter,referred to as “software”) according to prior art and the presentinvention are compared with each other by exemplifying a specific cost.

<1> Specific Example of the Cost and Sales Profit in the Prior Art

-   -   A total of part delivery price A: @ 10,000 Yen    -   A total of part original price B: ½ of A=@ 5,000 Yen    -   A set sales price C: Twice of A=@ 20,000 Yen

This set sales price includes processing cost, management cost,distribution margin, profit or the like

-   -   Software sales price D: @5,000 Yen    -   Software royalty E: 1,000 Yen per software

In the above described manufacturing sales conditions, assuming that aset of 1,000,000 is sold, and 10 software components are sold per set,the set and rough profit are as followed.

-   -   Set sales F;        -   20,000 Yen(C)×1,000,000=20,000,000,000 Yen    -   Set rough profit G:        -   @10,000 Yen(C−A)×1,000,000=10,000,000 Yen

This set rough profit G includes management cost and distribution marginor the like.

-   -   Part sales H:        -   @10,000 Yen(A)×1,000,000=10,000,000,000 Yen    -   Part rough profit I:        -   @5,000 Yen(A−B)×1,000,000=5,000,000,000 Yen    -   Software sales J:        -   @5,000 Yen (D)×1,000,000×10=50,000,000,000 Yen    -   Software royalty profit K:        -   @1,000 Yen(E)×1,000,000×10=10,000,000,000 Yen

That is, in this business, the sales and rough profit of eachmanufacturer are as follows:

-   -   Format holder (hardware manufacturer)        -   Sales L: F+K 30,000,000,000 Yen        -   Rough profit M: G+K 20,000,000,000 Yen    -   Software manufacturer        -   Sales N: J=50,000,000,000 Yen        -   Rough profit O: J−K=40,000,000,000 Yen    -   Part manufacturer        -   Sales P: H=10,000,000,000 Yen        -   Rough profit Q: I=5,000,000,000 Yen            <2> Specific Example of Cost and Sales Profit in a System            According to the Present Invention    -   Part delivery price total A′: @6,000 Yen    -   Part original price total B:        -   ½ of A=@5,000 Yen (same as the conventional system)    -   Set sales price C′: Twice of A′=@12,000 Yen

This set sales price includes processing cost, management cost,distribution margin, profit and the like.

-   -   Software sales price D: @5,000 Yen (same as above)    -   Software royalty E:        -   @1,000 Yen per soft ware (same as above)    -   Part royalty R: @400 Yen per software

In the above described sales conditions, the set sales price is reducedto A′/A=1×0.6. Thus, assuming that another conditions are totallysimilar to the conventional system, it can be expected that the saleswill be the second power of this inverse number, Therefore, it can beexpected that the number of sales which was assumed to be 1,000,000 inthe conventional system increase to (1/0.6)²×1,000,000=2,780,000.Assuming that 10 software components are sold per set, the sales andrough profit of each manufacturer are as follows:

-   -   Set sales F′:        -   @12,000 Yen(C)×2,780,000=33,400,000,000 Yen    -   Set rough profit G′:        -   @6,000 Yen(C′−A′)×2,780,000=16,700,000,000 Yen

This set rough profit includes processing cost, management cost anddistribution margin or the like.

-   -   Part sales H′:        -   @6,000 Yen(A′)×2,780,000=16,700,000,000 Yen    -   Part rough profit I′:        -   @1,000 Yen(A′−B)×2,780,000=2,800,000,000 Yen    -   Software sales J′        -   @ 5,000 Yen (D)×2,780,000×10=139,000,000,000 Yen    -   Software royalty income K′:        -   @ 1,000 Yen (E)×2,780,000×10=27,800,000,000 Yen    -   Part royalty income S:        -   @ 400 (R)×2,780,000×10=11,100,000,000 Yen

That is, according to the system of the present invention, the sales andrough profit of each manufacturer are as follows.

-   -   Format holder (hardware manufacturer 35)        -   Sales L′: F′+K′=61,200,000,000 Yen        -   Rough profit M′=G′+K′−S=33,400,000,000 Yen    -   Software manufacturer 67        -   Sales N′: J′=139,000,000,000 Yen        -   Rough profit O′=J′−K′=111,200,000,000 Yen    -   Part manufacturer 42        -   Sales P′: H′=16,700,000,000 Yen    -   Rough profit Q′: I′+S=13,900,000,000 Yen

In this manner, in comparison with the prior art and the presentinvention, a number of set sales can be increased to about 2.8 times,and thus, the sales and rough profit the hardware manufacturer 35,software manufacturer 67 and part manufacturer 42 can be increased.Moreover, the hardware manufacturer 35 can manufacture the same gamemachine 66 at a low price. The number of manufactures can be increased,and thus, repayment of the fixed manufacturing cost can be accelerated.

In addition, according to the hardware manufacturer or part manufacturerin the prior art, there can be constructed a new profit structure that,even if nothing is produced as long as the license agreement on businessterminated after shipping essential parts 40 or set continues, theincome of the software royalty 64 or part royalty 44 can be continuouslyobtained. If other manufacturing parts are manufactured at amanufacturing infrastructure at which this repayment terminates, theprofit structure can be improved in a synergetic effect manner.

Therefore, in each of the manufacturers, a stable income can be obtainedover the several years from the viewpoint of management. In addition,there can be obtained motivation that the hardware manufacturer 35 andpart manufacturer 42 take part in the spread of format.

As has been described above, in the sales activity management systemaccording to the present invention, in the case where an apparatusmanufacturer sells an information processing apparatus to a user, and aninformation provider sells available information contents at theinformation processing apparatus to the user, there is provided a salesactivity management apparatus, wherein an amount of money to be remittedto the apparatus manufacturer is set according to charge informationinputted from an information provision terminal device.

With this configuration, for example, the payment of the charge producedunder a license agreement between the apparatus manufacturer and theinformation provider can be automatically managed. Moreover, the salesof the information processing apparatus and information contents can bepromoted. In this manner, the user can obtain the information processingapparatus at a lower price than the desired sales price of the apparatusmanufacturer. As a result of many information processing apparatusbecoming popular among the users, the users use information contentsprovided by the information provider more frequently. As a result, it isexpected that an increased amount of the charge is paid from the usersto the information provider.

Therefore, an increased amount of the difference is returned from theinformation provider to the apparatus manufacturer. Thus, the sales andprofits of each of the apparatus manufacturer and information providercan be increased. Moreover, there can be expanded a business scale ofthe entire information processing medium concerning the manufacturingtechnology field of information processing apparatus, technical field ofproviding the information used therefor, and the user using theseinformation processing apparatus or information contents, which greatlycontribute industrial development.

In the sales activity management apparatus according to the presentinvention, in the case of integrally managing business in which anapparatus manufacturer sells an information to a user, and aninformation provider sells available information contents at theinformation processing apparatus to the user, there is providedmanagement control means, wherein an amount of money to be remitted tothe apparatus manufacturer is set according to the sales information anduse information on the information processing apparatus.

With this configuration, for example, automatic control can be performedsuch that an amount of money corresponding to the difference producedbecause the apparatus manufacturer has provided an informationprocessing apparatus to the user at a low price is returned from theinformation provider to the apparatus manufacturer according to anamount of money for the charge collected from the user. Moreover, thesales of the information processing apparatus and information contentscan be promoted.

In a sales activity management method according to the presentinvention, when an apparatus manufacturer sells an informationprocessing apparatus to a user, and an information provider sellsavailable information contents at the information processing apparatusto a user, a license agreement concerning sales of the informationprocessing apparatus and information contents are made in advancebetween the apparatus manufacturer and the information provider. Then,the manufacture of the information processing apparatus is managed, andthe information processing apparatus is forwarded to the user for salesat a sales price of the apparatus manufacturer. On the other hand, theavailable information contents at the information processing apparatusare provided to the user, and the charge is collected from the user.Thereafter, an amount of money to be remitted to the apparatusmanufacturer is set according to an amount of money of the chargecollected from the user.

With this configuration, for example, even in the case where theinformation processing apparatus is forwarded to the user for sales at alower price than the desired sales price of the apparatus manufacturer,the apparatus manufacturer can obtain the charge produced under thelicense agreement made between the apparatus manufacturer and theinformation provider. Moreover, the sales of the information processingapparatus and information contents can be promoted.

The present invention is applied to business or the like of selling aninformation processing apparatus from an apparatus manufacturer to auser, and selling available information contents at the informationprocessing apparatus from the information provider to the user, which isvery preferable.

1. A sales activity management method for selling an informationprocessing apparatus from an apparatus manufacturer to a user, andselling information contents available at the information processingapparatus from an information provider to the user, comprising the stepsof: managing manufacture of said information processing apparatus, andselling said information processing apparatus to said user at an actualsales price less than the desired selling price of said apparatusmanufacturer; said information provider providing available informationcontents at said information processing apparatus; collecting in a salesactivity management server having a provision management terminal acharge based upon at least content sale information according to salesof said information contents provided to said user at said informationprocessing apparatus; said sale activity management server managingsales information concerning the sales quantity of sales of saidinformation processing apparatus and use information concerning thequantity of use of said information contents; and said Sales ActivityManagement Server setting an amount of money to be remitted to saidapparatus manufacturer based at least upon said content salesinformation as collected by said provision management terminal ascompensation for a difference between the manufacturer's desired sellingprice and the actual sales price of said information processingapparatus.